Movement inducing module

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a module for use with a chair having a seat portion supported by a support portion, for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon. The module is adapted for attachment to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, and comprises a driving motor, a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion, and an angled axis system (AAS). The AAS has a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis and coupled with the first rotary element so that the auxiliary axis is oriented at an angle to the main axis. The module is designed such that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis. The base platform is coupled to the auxiliary rotary element so that the rotation of the auxiliary axis moves the base platform entailing the seat portion to perform an oscillating combined rotary-tilting motion, the amplitude of the movement being defined by the angle. The motor is adapted to rotate either of the main rotary element or auxiliary rotary element to provide desired oscillation frequency so that the person seated on the seat portion is triggered to operate his joints and muscles to compensate for the movement in order to remain focused on a target. The frequency and the amplitude being such that the compensation of the movement by the person allows the person to remain focused on the target.

1. A module for use with a chair having a seat portion supported by a support portion, for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon, the module being adapted to be attached to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, the module comprising:
 a driving motor; 
 a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion; and 
 an angled axis system (AAS) having a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis coupled with the main rotary element so that the auxiliary axis and the main axis form an angle therebetween of 0.25-6 degrees, the main rotary element of the AAS is constituted by a main rod having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a base of the chair when the module is assembled thereto, so that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis together with the main rotary element as a single body, 
 the base platform being coupled to the auxiliary rotary element so that the rotation of the auxiliary axis moves the base platform entailing the seat portion to perform an oscillating combined rotary-tilting motion having an amplitude A defined by the angle, 
 the motor being adapted to rotate either of the main rotary element or the auxiliary rotary element to provide a desired oscillation frequency f of 0.2-2 Hz so that the person seated on the seat portion is triggered to operate his joints and muscles to compensate for the movement in order to remain focused on a target, the frequency and the amplitude being such that the compensation of the movement by the person allows the person to remain focused on the target. 
 
     
     
       2. The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the frequency f is in the range of about 0.5 Hz to 1.5 Hz. 
     
     
       3. The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the amplitude A is in the range of 0.25-2°. 
     
     
       4. The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the chair is a swivel chair comprising a pneumatic piston constituting the support portion and a seat constituting the seat portion, and further comprising a chair mechanism selectively fixedly attached to one of the seat portion and the support portion. 
     
     
       5. The module according to  claim 4 , wherein the module is adapted to be attached to the swivel chair between the mechanism and the seat. 
     
     
       6. The module according to  claim 4 , wherein the module is adapted to be attached to the swivel chair between the mechanism and the pneumatic piston. 
     
     
       7. The module according to  claim 4 , wherein the module is integrally formed with the chair mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The module according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the module in an automatic work mode and/or an override mode,
 wherein in the automatic work mode the module is adapted to work in predetermined time intervals and in the over-ride mode the module is adapted to work according to parameters controlled by the user thereof. 
 
     
     
       9. The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the module further comprises a sensor adapted for detecting whether a person is seated on the seat portion, and preventing operation of the module in the negative. 
     
     
       10. The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary rotary element of the AAS is constituted by two protrusions extending from each side of the main rod, extending along an axis constituting the auxiliary axis; wherein the base platform is in the form of a fixed unit adapted for fixed attachment to the support portion of the chair and a movable unit adapted for attachment to the seat portion of the seat, and whereby the movable unit is moved with respect to the fixed unit during operation of the module; and wherein the module further comprises a spacer positioned between the fixed unit and the movable unit adapted for maintaining a fixed vertical distance therebetween at the location where the spacer is positioned while still allowing relative movement of the movable unit with respect to the fixed unit. 
     
     
       11. The module according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotary-tilting movement imposed on the movable unit is a combination of the following motions:
 a) a rotary, left & right motion about a vertical axis parallel to a height axis of the chair, caused by the protrusions periodically switching places—one being in front of the other and visa versa; and 
 b) a tilting up & down motion about an intersection point of the main and the auxiliary axes, caused by the protrusions periodically switching places—one being above the other and visa versa. 
 
     
     
       12. The module according to  claim 1 , wherein the main rotary axis of the main rotary element and the auxiliary rotary axis of the auxiliary rotary element have an intersection point. 
     
     
       13. A module according to  claim 1 , wherein the AAS is driven by a single motor. 
     
     
       14. A module for use with a chair having a seat portion supported by a support portion, for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon, the module being adapted to be attached to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, the module comprising:
 a driving motor; 
 a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion; and 
 an angled axis system (AAS) having a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis coupled with the main rotary element so that the auxiliary axis and the main axis form an angle therebetween of 0.25-6 degrees, so that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis main axis together with the main rotary element as a single body, the base platform being coupled to the auxiliary rotary element so that the rotation of the auxiliary axis moves the base platform entailing the seat portion to perform an oscillating combined rotary-tilting motion having an amplitude A defined by the angle, the motor is adapted to rotate either of the main rotary element and auxiliary rotary element to provide desired oscillation frequency f of 0.2-2 Hz so that the person seated on the seat portion is triggered to operate their joints and muscles to compensate for the movement in order to remain focused on a target, the frequency and the amplitude being such that the compensation of the movement by the person allows the person to remain focused on the target, 
 wherein the AAS is formed of a top and bottom cylindrical portions which are integrally formed at an angle with one another, the bottom cylindrical portion constituting the main rotary element and its rotary axis constituting the main axis, and the top cylindrical portion constituting the auxiliary rotary element and its rotary axis constitutes the auxiliary axis, the main axis being substantially perpendicular to the seat portion, and 
 wherein the base platform comprises a fixed unit and a moveable unit adapted for respective attachment to the support portion and the seat portion of the chair, and a retention member, adapted to prevent rotation of the fixed unit with respect to the moveable unit, while still allowing the oscillating combined rotary-tilting, and the module further comprises a top and a bottom bearing each having a respective inner ring and an outer ring, wherein the fixed unit, movable unit, top cylindrical portion and bottom cylindrical portion constitute a first group of four elements, and the inner rings and the outer rings of the respective top and bottom bearing constitute a second group of four elements, and wherein each element from the first group is adapted for coupling to exactly one element of the second group, and each element of the second group is adapted for coupling to exactly one element of the first group, so long as the fixed unit and the movable unit are not attached to the rings of the same bearing. 
 
     
     
       15. The module according to  claim 14 , wherein the retention member is a strap of flexible material connecting the fixed and moveable units, the material from which the strap is made being such as to allow the strap to expand in a vertical direction, thereby allowing movement of the moveable unit relative to the fixed unit, while at the same time preventing the units from rotating with respect to one another. 
     
     
       16. The module according to  claim 14 , wherein an intersection point of the main axis and the auxiliary axis is disposed along the main axis in order to achieve a variety of possible movement. 
     
     
       17. The module according to  claim 14 , wherein the base platform comprises a fixed unit and a moveable unit adapted for attachment to the support portion and the seat portion of the chair respectively, and wherein the rotary-tilting movement imposed on the moveable unit, and subsequently the seat portion is a combination of the following motions:
 a) a rotary motion about a substantially vertical axis caused by the rotation of the moveable unit about the intersection point of the main and auxiliary axes; and 
 b) a tilting up & down motion about the top cylindrical portion caused by the rotation of the top cylindrical portion with the bearing. 
 
     
     
       18. A module according to  claim 14 , wherein the frequency f is in the range of about 0.5 Hz to 1.5 Hz. 
     
     
       19. A module according to  claim 14 , wherein the angle is in the range of 0.25-2 degrees. 
     
     
       20. A module according to  claim 14 , wherein the chair is a swivel chair comprising a pneumatic piston constituting the support portion and a seat constituting the seat portion, and further comprising a chair mechanism selectively fixedly attached to one of the seat portion and the support portion. 
     
     
       21. A module according to  claim 20 , wherein the module is adapted to be attached to the swivel chair between the mechanism and the seat. 
     
     
       22. A module according to  claim 20 , wherein the module is adapted to be attached to the swivel chair between the mechanism and the pneumatic piston. 
     
     
       23. A module according to  claim 20 , wherein the module is integrally formed with the chair mechanism. 
     
     
       24. A module according to  claim 14 , further comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the module to provide the module at the following operation modes:
 automatic work mode in which the module is adapted to work in predetermined time intervals; and/or 
 over-ride mode in which the module is to work according to parameters controlled by the user thereof. 
 
     
     
       25. A chair comprising a module for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon, the module being adapted to be attached to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, and comprising a driving motor, a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion, and an angled axis system (AAS) having a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis coupled with the main rotary element so that the auxiliary axis and the main axis form an angle therebetween of 0.25-6 degrees, the main rotary element of the AAS is constituted by a main rod having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a base of the chair when the module is assembled thereto, so that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis together with the main rotary element as a single body, the base platform being coupled to the auxiliary rotary element so that the rotation of the auxiliary axis moves the base platform entailing the seat portion to perform an oscillating combined rotary-tilting motion having an amplitude A defined by the angle; the motor is adapted to rotate either of the main rotary element and auxiliary rotary element to provide desired oscillation frequency f of 0.2-2 Hz so that the person seated on the seat portion is triggered to operate their joints and muscles to compensate for the movement in order to remain focused on a target, the frequency and the amplitude being such that the compensation of the movement by the person allows the person to remain focused on the target. 
     
     
       26. A chair comprising a module for triggering movement of a person sitting thereon, the module being adapted to be attached to the chair between the seat portion and the support portion, and comprising a driving motor, a base platform adapted for fixed attachment to the seat portion, and an angled axis system (AAS) having a main rotary element having a main axis, and an auxiliary rotary element having an auxiliary axis coupled with the main rotary element so that the auxiliary axis and the main axis form an angle therebetween of 0.25-6 degrees, so that when the main rotary element rotates about its main axis, the auxiliary rotary element also rotates about the main axis together with the main rotary element as a single body, the base platform being coupled to the auxiliary rotary element so that the rotation of the auxiliary axis moves the base platform entailing the seat portion to perform an oscillating combined rotary-tilting motion having an amplitude A defined by the angle; the motor is adapted to rotate either of the main rotary element and auxiliary rotary element to provide desired oscillation frequency f of 0.2-2 Hz so that the person seated on the seat portion is triggered to operate their joints and muscles to compensate for the movement in order to remain focused on a target, the frequency and the amplitude being such that the compensation of the movement by the person allows the person to remain focused on the target, wherein the AAS is formed of a top and bottom cylindrical portions which are integrally formed at an angle with one another, the bottom cylindrical portion constituting the main rotary element and its rotary axis constituting the main axis, and the top cylindrical portion constituting the auxiliary rotary element and its rotary axis constitutes the auxiliary axis, the main axis being substantially perpendicular to the seat portion, and wherein the base platform comprises a fixed unit and a moveable unit adapted for respective attachment to the support portion and the seat portion of the chair, and a retention member, adapted to prevent rotation of the fixed unit with respect to the moveable unit, while still allowing the oscillating combined rotary-tilting, and the module further comprises a top and a bottom bearing each having a respective inner ring and an outer ring, wherein the fixed unit, movable unit, top cylindrical portion and bottom cylindrical portion constitute a first group of four elements, and the inner rings and the outer rings of the respective top and bottom bearing constitute a second group of four elements, and wherein each element from the first group is adapted for coupling to exactly one element of the second group, and each element of the second group is adapted to for coupling to exactly one element of the first group, so long as said fixed unit and said movable unit are not attached to the rings of the same bearing.